Milking Device Cleaning System with Downstream Liquid Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milking systems face challenges in controlling the cleaning and disinfection process, particularly due to unpredictable ambient influences and the length of the main milk pipe, which can lead to inadequate cleaning of downstream components, especially in large farms with voluntary animal traffic where milking is automated and unpredictable.
Innovation Solution
A milking system with a first cleaning device for each milking device and a second, additional cleaning liquid supply situated downstream to ensure thorough cleaning, along with a monitoring device to adjust the cleaning liquid supply based on measured parameters, ensuring effective disinfection and minimizing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single cleaning liquid supply is used for each milking device, then the cleaning system remains simple and cost-effective, but the cleaning effectiveness cannot be sufficiently controlled, especially in long main milk pipes and under varying ambient conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cleaning liquid supplies (first cleaning liquid supply at milking devices and second cleaning liquid supply at temporary storage vessel) into a coordinated system that works together to ensure thorough cleaning of the entire milk path, including long main milk pipes that were previously difficult to clean effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system is designed to serve multiple functions: the first cleaning liquid supply handles local cleaning at milking devices, while the second cleaning liquid supply at the temporary storage vessel provides additional cleaning power for the main milk pipe and ensures overall system disinfection, making the system adaptable to various cleaning needs
2Productivity
If the main milk pipe is extended to accommodate large farms with multiple milking devices, then the system can serve more animals, but the cleaning control becomes unpredictable and downstream components may be inadequately cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary milk storage vessel serves as an intermediary point in the cleaning system, where the second cleaning liquid supply is introduced. This intermediary position allows the second cleaning liquid to act on the main milk pipe and ensure that cleaning effectiveness is maintained throughout the entire system, regardless of pipe length or ambient conditions
3Adaptability or versatility
If ambient conditions such as temperature and wind vary, then the milking system must adapt to maintain cleaning quality, but individual milking devices cannot react centrally to changed circumstances
Solution Approach 1:
The second cleaning liquid supply at the temporary storage vessel provides a universal solution that benefits all milking devices in the system. When ambient conditions change, the centralized second cleaning liquid supply can be adjusted to compensate, providing adaptability without requiring modifications to individual milking devices
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides improved control over the cleaning and disinfection process, ensuring that the entire milking system is effectively cleaned, even under varying conditions, without the need for modifications to individual milking devices, thus maintaining system efficiency and milk quality.
Implementation Method 1
a pump, which cleaning device is configured to clean at least the milk-carrying part of at least one milking device and a part of the milk pipe system which connects the milk-carrying part to the temporary milk storage vessel, by transferring cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply through at least the milk-carrying part of the at least one milking device and through said part of the milk pipe system to the temporary milk storage vessel by pumping
Implementation Method 2
the temporary milk storage vessel comprises a main pump for transferring liquid from the temporary milk storage vessel through the main milk pipe in the direction of the milk storage tank
Implementation Method 3
the milking system furthermore comprises a second, additional cleaning device with at least one second, additional cleaning liquid supply, which second cleaning device is configured to supply additional cleaning liquid from the second cleaning liquid supply in a direction of flow from the temporary milk storage vessel towards the main milk pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A milking system includes several milking devices, each having a milk-carrying part, a temporary milk storage vessel, a milk pipe system, a milk storage tank, and a main milk pipe, which connects the temporary milk storage vessel to the milk storage tank. The milking system includes a first cleaning device having at least one first cleaning liquid supply and at least a pump, which cleaning device is configured to clean at least the milk-carrying part of at least one milking device and a part of the milk pipe system which connects the milk-carrying part to the temporary milk storage vessel, by transferring cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply through at least the milk-carrying part of the at least one milking device and through said part of the milk pipe system to the temporary milk storage vessel by pumping. The temporary milk storage vessel includes a main pump for transferring liquid from the temporary milk storage vessel through the main milk pipe in the direction of the milk storage tank. The milking system includes a second, additional cleaning device with at least one second, additional cleaning liquid supply, which second cleaning device is configured to supply additional cleaning liquid from the second cleaning liquid supply in a direction of flow from the temporary milk storage vessel towards the main milk pipe. The second cleaning liquid supply is situated downstream of at least each of the milking devices, viewed in said direction of flow.